Sheet metal tie

ABSTRACT

A tie is designed to secure together in a building structure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across the top end of the vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the top plate at an acute angle. The tie is constructed from a unitary sheet metal body which is adapted for securement against at least two surfaces of each of the rafter, the top plate and the vertical stud. The unitary sheet metal body for the tie includes a base, a pair of rafter plates which extend orthogonally upward from opposite sides of the base, and a pair of stud tails which extend orthogonally downward from opposite ends of the base. The base together with the pair of rafter plates define a recess that is sized and shaped to fittingly receive a portion of the rafter. In addition, the base together with the pair of stud tails define a channel which is sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of the top plate and the vertical stud.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) ofU.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/643,078, filed Jan. 11,2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the construction of buildingsand more particularly to metal ties which are used to connect andstructurally reinforce the interconnection of wood framing members in abuilding structure.

Wood framing members are commonly used in construction to define thestructural support for a building. Specifically, as seen most clearly inFIG. 1, the wood framing for a building commonly includes a plurality ofvertical studs 11 (each commonly constructed from an elongated woodenbeam) which are spaced approximately 16 inches apart from one another ina particular configuration to define the outer periphery of thebuilding. In addition, a top plate 13 (also commonly referred to as aheader or support beam) is disposed horizontally across the free top endof each stud 11, the top plate 13 commonly being represented by a pairof stacked 2×4 wooden beams 15. Furthermore, a plurality of spaced apartrafters 17 (also commonly referred to as joists) extend at an acuteangle up from the top plate 13, each rafter 17 commonly beingrepresented by a single 2×6 wooden beam.

It should be noted that the various aforementioned framing members aretypically secured together using one or more fasteners (e.g., nails,screws, etc.). Specifically, a plurality of fasteners (not shown) aredriven through the top plate 13 and each stud 11 and, in turn, aplurality of fasteners (not shown) are driven through the top plate 13and the rafter tail 19 for each rafter 17. In this manner, fastenersserve to secure and maintain the interrelation of framing members and,as a result, the overall skeletal design of the building.

With the framing members secured together in this manner, large segmentsof plyboard are typically secured to the framing members to enclose thebuilding structure. Additional materials (e.g., roofing tiles,clapboard, vinyl siding, insulation, etc.) are commonly secured to theexterior of the plyboard to render the building structure more resistantto various types of environmental conditions.

However, it should be noted that natural environmental conditions oftenexert violent and destructive forces onto a building. In extremecircumstances (e.g, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), these forces candisconnect the various framing construction members of a building apartfrom one another which, in turn, can result in significant destructionto the building. For example, significant wind forces which commonlyaccompany a hurricane can often disconnect the various rafters of abuilding from its corresponding top plates. In this manner, the extremewind forces can literally dislodge the roof from of the remainder of thebuilding, which is highly undesirable.

Accordingly, sheet metal ties are commonly used in conjunction withconventional fastening members to secure together two or more woodframing members. As can be appreciated, sheet metal ties serve tostrengthen (i.e., reinforce) the interconnection of wood framing membersin a building structure and thereby render said building structure morecapable of adequately withstanding extreme environmental conditions.

As an example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,372 to A. D. Commins (hereinafterthe '372 patent), there is disclosed a hurricane tie for connecting woodmembers in a building structure. The tie has a unitary sheet metal bodymember which includes a truncated generally right angled triangular basemember and a generally right angled triangular web member arranged inreverse apex order with respect to one another. The base and web memberslie in planes which are mutually angularly related to one another. Thebase and web members are formed with fastener openings for connectingthe tie to wood members.

The hurricane metal tie described in the '372 patent serves tostrengthen the connection between two wood framing members. However,said tie is limited to the connection of only two wood framing members.Stated another way, said tie is incapable of securing together a stud, atop plate and a rafter (which together serve as the foundation of mostconventional building structures).

Accordingly, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,781 to T. C. Thompson (hereinafterthe '781 patent), there is disclosed a one-piece metal connector thatsecurely ties together the structural members of the roof and wall of awood frame house. The connector has a vertical web on the top that isattached to a rafter and a vertical web on the bottom that is connectedto a wall stud. The connector correctly places each structural memberfor maximum structural integrity, forming a direct load path. The middlepart of the connector has a vertical plate and horizontal tabs that forma box-section around the top plate. Horizontal and vertical tabs formopen boxes that hold sheathing tight to the wall. Gussets brace therafter and stud against racking. The connector has a large surface areafor maximum strength, and precise nail holes to avoid splitting thestructural member. The connector grasps the structural members to avoiddetachment of an structural members during hurricanes and seismicevents. The connector's webs and bends help to avoid twisting, lateralforces, thrusting, and uplift.

Although the tie described in the '781 patent is designed to securetogether a stud, a top plate and a rafter, said tie suffers from anotable shortcoming. Specifically, the tie disclosed in the '781 patentis designed for securement against only a single surface of most of thewood framing members. As a consequence, the relative strength of theconnection of said tie with certain wood framing members is less thanoptimal, which is highly undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet metaltie.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel sheetmetal tie for securing together various wood framing members of abuilding structure.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a sheetmetal tie as described above which secures together in a buildingstructure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across thetop end of the vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the topplate at an acute angle.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide asheet metal tie as described above which includes a limited number ofparts, which is easy to use and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, there is provided a tie for securing together in a buildingstructure a vertical stud, a top plate disposed horizontally across thetop end of the vertical stud and a rafter extending up from the topplate at an acute angle, each of said rafter, top plate and studcomprising at least four surfaces, said tie comprising a unitary sheetmetal body which is adapted for securement against at least two surfacesof each of said rafter, said top plate and said stud.

Various other features and advantages will appear from the descriptionto follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way ofillustration, an embodiment for practicing the invention. The embodimentwill be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in theart to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The followingdetailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a prior art wood framingstructure for a building, the wood framing structure comprising arafter, a pair of top plates and a pair of vertical studs;

FIG. 2 is a front, right side perspective view of a sheet metal tieconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention, saidsheet metal tie being shown securing together a rafter, a top plate anda vertical stud in the wood framing structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank which can be shaped to form thesheet metal tie shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, front, right side perspective view of the sheetmetal tie shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, rear, left side perspective view of the sheetmetal tie shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a front, right side view of the sheet metal tie shown in FIG.2, the sheet metal tie being shown securing together a top plate and avertical stud, the top plate and vertical stud being shown infragmentary form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a tie which is constructedaccording to the teachings of the present invention, the tie beingidentified generally by reference numeral 31. As will be describedfurther in detail below, tie 31 is designed to help secure together avertically disposed, elongated wooden stud 11, a horizontal top plate 13(represented herein as being in the form of a pair of stacked 2×4 woodenbeams 15) and a rafter 17 (represented herein as being in the form of asingle 2×6 wooden beam). Together, stud 11, top plate 13 and rafter 17partially define the support structure, or framing, for a building.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a flat pattern layout, or blank,of tie 31 prior to bending, tie 31 preferably being constructed from arigid, durable and strong piece of sheet metal, such as an 18 gaugegalvanized steel or an 18 gauge 316 stainless steel.

Tie 31 comprises a rectangularly-shaped base 33 which serves as the mainplate for tie 31.

Tie 11 also comprises a pair of rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2 which areconnected to opposite sides of base 33 through fold lines 37-1 and 37-2,respectively. Each plate 35 has an enlarged trapezoidal configurationand is shaped to define a plurality of circular holes 39 through whichthe stem of a conventional fastening device may be disposed, each holebeing preferably 0.18 inches in diameter. As seen most clearly in FIGS.4 and 5, rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2 are folded about fold lines 37-1and 37-2, respectively, until plates 35-1 and 35-2 extend verticallyupward from base 33 at an approximate right angle relative thereto.Shaped in this manner, base 33, plate 35-1 and plate 35-2 togetherdefine a recess 40. As will be described further below, recess 40 issized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of rafter 17.

Tie 31 additionally comprises a pair of stud tails 41-1 and 41-2 whichare connected to opposite ends of base 33 through fold lines 43-1 and43-2, respectively. Each tail 41 has an elongated rectangularconfiguration and is shaped to define a plurality of circular holes 39through which the stem of a conventional fastening device may bedisposed. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, tails 41-1 and 41-2 arefolded about lines 43-1 and 43-2, respectively, until tails 41-1 and41-2 extend vertically downward from base 33 at an approximate rightangle relative thereto. Shaped in this manner, base 33, tail 41-1 andtail 41-2 together define a channel 45. As will be described furtherbelow, channel 45 is sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least aportion of top plate 13 and at least a portion of stud 11.

Tie 31 can be used to secure together a stud 11, a top plate 13 and arafter 17 in the following manner. During the initial framing process ofa building, a plurality of vertical studs 11 are spaced apart from oneanother and a horizontal top plate 13 is secured across the free top endof each vertical stud 11. With top plate 13 secured to studs 11, a tie31 is mounted on the framing over each stud 11 and its corresponding topplate 13.

Specifically, as seen most clearly in FIG. 6, a tie 31 is mounted on topplate 13 such that top plate 13 and stud 11 are fittingly received(i.e., nest snugly) within channel 45. Mounted as such, tie 31 (inparticular, base 33 and stud tails 41-1 and 41-2) is disposed flush incontact against three surfaces of top plate 13 and tie 31 (inparticular, stud tails 41-1 and 41-2) is disposed flush in contactagainst two surfaces of stud 11. Fastening elements (e.g., screws,nails) are then driven through holes 39 in tails 41-1 and 41-2 (with thehead of each element sized greater in diameter than each opening 39) soas to fixedly secure tie 31 to top plate 13 and stud 11.

Referring back to FIG. 1, rafter 17 is then manipulated such that raftertail 19 fittingly protrudes (i.e., nests snugly) within in recess 40 oftie 31. Configured as such, tie 31 (in particular, base 33 and rafterplates 35-1 and 35-2) is disposed flush in contact against threesurfaces of rafter 17. Fastening elements (e.g., screws, nails) are thendriven through holes 39 in rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2 (with the head ofeach element sized greater in diameter than each opening 39) so as tofixedly secure tie 31 to rafter 17.

In this manner, it is to be understood that tie 31 serves to securetogether stud 11, top plate 13 and rafter 17. The fact that tie 31 issecured against at least two surfaces of the rafter, top plate and studmeans that the strength of the connection that tie 31 affords betweenall three wood framing members is maximized, which is highly desirable.

The embodiment shown of the present invention is intended to be merelyexemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to make numerousvariations and modifications to them without departing from the spiritof the present invention. As an example, the particular size and/orshape of base 33, rafter plates 35-1 and 35-2 and/or stud tails 41-1 and41-2 could be modified without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. As another example, the size, number and/or location of holes39 in tie 31 could be modified without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. All such variations and modifications are intended tobe within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. A tie for securing together in a building structure a vertical stud,a top plate disposed horizontally across the top end of the verticalstud and a rafter extending up from the top plate at an acute angle,each of said rafter, top plate and stud comprising at least foursurfaces, said tie comprising a unitary sheet metal body which isadapted for securement against at least two surfaces of each of saidrafter, said top plate and said stud.
 2. The tie as claimed in claim 1wherein said unitary sheet metal body comprises: (a) a base, (b) a pairof plates which extend upwardly from opposite sides of said base, saidbase together with said pair of plates defining a recess which is sizedand shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of said rafter, and(c) a pair of tails which extend downwardly from opposite ends of saidbase, together said base and said pair of tails defining a channel whichis sized and shaped to fittingly receive at least a portion of said topplate and at least a portion of said vertical stud.
 3. The tie asclaimed in claim 2 wherein each of said pair of plates is shaped todefine a plurality of fastener mounting holes that are positioned foruse in attaching each of said pair of plates to the rafter.
 4. The tieas claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the pair of tails is shaped todefine a plurality of fastener mounting holes that are positioned foruse in attaching each of said pair of tails to said top plate and saidvertical stud.